Steppe Lemming
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 Steppe Lemming, Lagurus lagurus
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| Lagurus lagurus (Pallara, 1773) |
- Lagurus is also a plant genus in the family Poaceae
The Steppe Lemming, or Lagurus lagurus, is a light grey, small, plump rodent that is like a lemming, but is not in the genus Lemmus, unlike the Norway Lemming (Lemmus lemmus) It is 87 to 140 mm long and 25 to 35g.
This lemming eats shoots and leaves and is more active at night, however is not strictly nocturnal. It lives in Russia and Ukraine in steppes and semi-arid environments. Fossil remains of this species have been found in areas as far as Great Britain.
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[edit] Steppe Lemmings as pets
The Steppe Lemming is also one of the most common domestic lemmings. In captivity they can live from 2 to 2.5 years, however they are usually mistreated with small cages (a 10-gallon tank is best for a colony) and improper diets. Although the Steppe Lemming is social by nature and should not be held in captivity alone, if a colony of Steppe Lemmings are held together for a long period of time (2 or 3 months) they may become hostile to each other (mainly to the subordinate members of the colony). If there is only one, separate nesting area, two entrances or exits should be placed, due to the attack style of the more impetuous lemmings. They also tend to be very territorial animals, so it is best that there be a low male population in captivity. Overall it is best to keep between 3 to 8 Steppe Lemmings in one cage or aquarium with no more than 1 male for every 2 or 3 females.
It is important not to feed them standard rodent chow containing bits of dried fruit. As their natural diet does not contain much sugar, steppe lemmings are somewhat diabetic and become sick or even die from overdosing on sugar. A sugar-free, non-molassed chow that does not contain dried fruit and little sunflower and other oily seeds should be used; laboratory rodent chows may be a cheap alternative. Additionally, steppe lemmings need grass and other leafy greens such as alfalfa to thrive. Grass gathered outdoors may harbor parasites and toxins and should not be used unless gathered from meadows that are away from habitated areas, roads and not frequented by dogs or used for grazing. Clean water should be always available; the amount actually drunk varies with the food consumed. Willow twigs need to be provided for abrading the continuously-growing teeth.
Also, as their habitat is essentially flat and rather featureless terrain, steppe lemmings do not comprehend the concepts of height and falling. Providing them with opportunities to climb up the cage or tank is not really necessary and likely to lead to injury or death, as the animals will simply drop down head-on. An exercise wheel, however, is a very good way to keep the animals from becoming fat.
[edit] Steppe Lemming battle
[edit] Motives for Steppe Lemmings to fight
The Steppe Lemming rarely fights. When they do conduct battle, it is usually the alpha male attacking subordinate members of the colony as the colony grows to be too large. Also, all lemmings will attack any new-comers to the colony. After killing or removing any new-comers, they will then attack each other.
[edit] Steppe Lemming method of battle
The attacking lemming will trap the defending lemming in corner and then attack with his short claws (Thus if two exits are present in a cage, the defending lemming can escape). He will only attack enough to cause fatal internal bleeding. The attacking lemming will then leave as the defending lemming internally bleeds to his death.
